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Lookout Mountain looms over Chattanooga like a sentry and for generations has been the city's main tourist draw, with attractions such as Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway. While those sites still draw visitors, downtown Chattanooga has seen a renaissance since the Tennessee Aquarium opened in the early 1990s. This urban resurgence has also sparked a culinary renaissance. The city is now a go-to destination in the region for foodies looking to have their palates exposed to new sensations as well as some campy old-time goodness.

The Station House at The Chattanooga Choo Choo

No trip to Chattanooga would be complete without a stop at one of its most iconic landmarks, The Chattanooga Choo Choo (choochoo.com). The Station House Restaurant is part of the Choo Choo complex, where meals are served with a song, literally. The servers sing to you, and not just "Happy Birthday." The cuisine is traditional steakhouse fare and your server may also have a microphone in her hand as she interacts with a live band and other singers on stage. This is a good dining spot with large groups for special occasions.

The Terminal Brewhouse

Across the street from the Chattanooga Choo Choo, craft beer lovers will want to check out The Terminal Brewhouse (terminalbrewhouse.com), a restaurant where the beer is brewed within view of your table. The brewery sits center stage in the middle of the tiered balcony dining area and pumps the beer up directly to the bar. The ambiance is family-friendly (kids get a kick out of watching the big equipment in the brewery in action) and the food is above-average gastropub fare, including surprisingly good pizza with locally sourced ingredients. Even the printed menu is fun, with proclamations such as "We reserve the right to laugh if you ask us how big our ten-inch pizza is."

Southern Belle Riverboat

If dinner on an old-fashioned riverboat sounds like fun, a trip aboard the Southern Belle (chattanoogariverboat.com) is for you. The boat departs from Pier 2 near the Tennessee Aquarium for a dinner cruise on the Tennessee River. A Dixieland jazz band performs while you dine buffet-style on the inside sections of the multi-deck boat. Before and after dinner is a good time to roam the outside portions of the decks or to sit and watch the riverbank roll by as the sun sets. There's also a dance floor in front of the band, if you care to kick your heels up to some classic jazz and showbiz tunes.

Chattanooga Market

The Chattanooga Market (chattanoogamarket.com) started in 2001 underneath a giant open-air pavilion on the Southside as a place for local farmers, artisans and food vendors to sell their products directly to consumers on Sunday afternoons. The concept took off and the market now operates in a second location by the aquarium, both containing food booths from Chattanooga's best eateries, making this a good opportunity for noshing on good food while browsing for fresh produce, arts and crafts. Live music is a big part of the marketplace, and a large seating area with tables for eating is available in front of each stage, where folk, bluegrass, country and rock music are featured.

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About the Author

Blake Guthrie covers travel, entertainment and outdoor recreation for many outlets, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he is a regular contributor. With years of experience as a professional cook, Guthrie also relishes writing about food and beverage topics. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in mass communications from Auburn University.

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